Sustainable in the Suburbs | Reduce Waste, Sustainable Habits & Intentional Living

Sarah Robertson-Barnes | Sustainable Living Expert, Low Waste Educator
  • 4.6 (14)
  • Home & Garden
  • Updated Biweekly

Want to waste less, save money, and build a more sustainable home life? Do you care about sustainable living but feel overwhelmed by all the advice, products, pressure, and endless lists of things you are supposed to change? If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place. Sustainable in the Suburbs helps you reduce waste, build sustainable habits, and make intentional living feel more doable at home — in a way that works for real people, real families, real budgets, real routines, and real homes. Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — sustainability educator, writer, speaker, former high school science teacher, suburban mum, and founder of Sustainable in the Suburbs — the show offers practical, non-judgmental guidance to help you waste less, spend more intentionally, buy less, use what you already have, and make thoughtful changes at home. Sarah’s background in science education and technical writing helps her make complex sustainability topics clear, approachable, and useful in everyday life. Because sustainable living is not just about eco-friendly products or making every possible swap. It is about creating a home life that is better for the planet while also working for your budget, energy, family, routines, and capacity. On the podcast, you’ll hear practical conversations and ideas about: Low waste living and reducing waste at home Sustainable habits that fit real life Reducing food waste and building low-waste kitchen routines Buying less, using what you have, and reducing overconsumption Sustainable parenting and sustainable living with kids Composting, decluttering, plastic-free living, and eco-frugal living Making holidays and celebrations less wasteful Bringing more slow living and intentional living into everyday life Building a more sustainable home life without adding more pressure Choose an episode and hit play. Follow or subscribe for practical ideas to help make sustainable living feel more doable at home. Next steps: Free Household Waste Audit Workbook A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen Read the Sustainable in the Suburbs blog Join the Sustainable in the Suburbs newsletter  Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener — one small shift at a time!

  1. Sep 29

    59: Intentional Living, Yoga, and Enoughness with Aarti Inamdar

    What if intentional living really begins with examining what we already have, what we consume, and how we relate to the world around us? This episode is a different lens on many of the questions at the heart of sustainability: Why do we always want more? How do we know when we have enough? And what might change if we slowed down long enough to ask ourselves why? This week, I’m joined by my yoga teacher, Aarti Inamdar, for a conversation about the connections between yoga and sustainable living. Aarti is a student and teacher of classical hatha yoga who has spent nearly 20 years studying and sharing these traditions. We talk about yoga far beyond the physical practice, and what yogic teachings can offer us in a culture that is constantly encouraging us to want more, buy more, and do more. Aarti introduces the principles of ahimsa (non-harm), pratyahara (sensory withdrawal), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness), and we explore how they connect to overconsumption, enoughness, and the pull so many of us feel toward a slower, simpler way of living. We also talk about connection to nature — and what changes when we stop thinking of nature as somewhere we go and begin recognizing ourselves as part of it. From the food we eat to the birds in our own backyards, this conversation explores what it might look like to pay closer attention to our relationships with the living world and to question some of the habits of modern life that keep us disconnected from it. Takeaways How yoga extends far beyond the postures on your matWhat ahimsa, pratyahara, and aparigraha can teach us about sustainable habits and consumptionWhy seeking fulfilment through more stuff can keep us wanting moreHow enoughness connects to intentional living and a less consumption-driven lifeWhy slowing down can help us notice our existing connection to natureWhat traditional ways of preparing, sharing, and eating food can teach us about waste and consumptionHow questioning what we actually need can help us step outside the constant push toward moreOne Small Shift Notice where you feel connected — to yourself, another living being, or the natural world around you. Maybe that means taking your coffee outside and listening to the birds, paying closer attention to the food you're eating, or simply noticing the other living beings you share your neighbourhood with. Connect With Aarti Website Instagram Facebook Related Blog Posts A Simple Framework for Climate Action 25 Ways to Live a More Sustainable Lifestyle Becoming a Zero Waste Family Related Podcast Episodes Ep. 5: How to Navigate Climate Emotions and Build Community Around You Ep. 7: Rethinking Zero Waste and Building Community Care Ep. 11: Money, Enoughness, and Community Care Ep. 32: Overstimulation, Overconsumption, and the Pressure to Do More Ep. 42: Overwhelmed by Climate Change? Start Here Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

  2. Sep 15

    58: How to Quit Amazon, Buy Less, and Break the Cycle of Overconsumption

    Overconsumption is built into the way we shop  and Amazon makes buying more, faster, almost frictionless. This episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs originally aired in August 2025, but I wanted to bring it back now because the conversation feels even more relevant today. I’m talking about how to quit Amazon (or at least drastically reduce your reliance on it) in a way that’s actually doable. We look at the real cost of convenience, from plastic waste and overconsumption to the pressure Amazon’s business model puts on local and independent businesses. I also share how my family has mostly moved away from Amazon, what we do instead, and the few situations where we still use it. We also talk about the power of boycott. One person choosing to spend differently might feel insignificant, but collectively, where we spend our money matters. Choosing to buy less, shop locally, support independent businesses, buy secondhand, borrow, or simply wait before purchasing are all ways to push back on a system designed to keep us consuming. This isn’t about pretending everyone can completely avoid Amazon. It’s about finding the places where you do have some wiggle room and building sustainable habits that feel realistic for your life. Because intentional living doesn’t have to mean overhauling everything overnight. Sometimes it starts with pausing before you click “buy.” Takeaways How Amazon’s business model encourages overconsumption and makes convenience hard to resist.Quitting Amazon is about spending in ways that better reflect your values and support your community. The environmental cost of convenience, including packaging, plastic waste, and unnecessary purchases.Why boycotts and collective consumer choices can have real power.Practical ways to buy less without making your life harder.How shopping local, choosing independent retailers, buying secondhand, borrowing, and using what you already have can reduce your reliance on Amazon.The three mindset shifts that helped my family: Pause, Buy Local, and Shop Secondhand.Why even reducing how often you order can be a meaningful step toward more intentional living.One Small Shift Try a “pause rule” for online shopping. Choose one day each week — or even each month — to place online orders, and let everything sit in your cart until then. You may be surprised by how many things you no longer want or need by the time ordering day rolls around. Resources Buy Less, Buy Better: My Favourite Canadian BrandsFacebook MarketplaceBuy Nothing ProjectPoshmark (invite code SUSTAINABLESRB)DePopThreadUpKijiji LEND-IT.CARelated Episodes Ep. 11: Money, Enoughness, and Community Care with Women’s Personal Finance Ep. 32: Overstimulation, Overconsumption, and the Pressure to Do More Ep. 37: Sustainable Decluttering — Why Letting Go Isn’t Neutral Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

  3. Sep 1

    57: Connecting With Nature — Everyday Ecosystem Restoration with Tim Christophersen

    Connecting with nature starts with understanding that we aren’t separate from the natural world — we are part of it. This week, I’m joined by Tim Christophersen, author of Generation Restoration and a leading global voice on ecosystem restoration, to talk about ecological literacy, our relationship with nature, and what it means to restore that relationship in our everyday lives. We talk about what it actually means to be ecologically literate — knowing where our food and water come from, understanding the role nature plays in our communities, recognizing the species we share those spaces with, and beginning to see ourselves as part of those systems rather than separate from them. We also look at what this means closer to home, including the potential of suburban yards and neighbourhoods, nature as infrastructure, community restoration, regenerative agriculture, and how ordinary people can participate in restoring the ecosystems around them. And while the challenges facing the natural world are enormous, this is ultimately a hopeful conversation about agency, reciprocity, and why rebuilding our relationship with nature can change the way we approach sustainable living. Takeaways What ecological literacy means and why we need to relearn itHow the language we use can unconsciously reflect how we see natureWhat reciprocity can look like in our relationship with the natural worldWhy trees, wetlands, soil and other ecosystems are essential infrastructureHow connecting with nature can begin right outside your own front doorThe role suburban yards, native plants and citizen science can play in ecosystem restorationWhy community action and local policy matterOur shared belief that there is still so much reason to hopeOne Small Shift Get curious about one part of the natural world you encounter every day. Ecological literacy grows through curiosity and observation — and simply paying closer attention can begin to change our relationship with the living world around us. Connect with Tim LinkedIn Website Generation Restoration: How to Fix Our Relationship Crisis with Mother Nature Related Blog Posts Safe Nesting Materials for Birds A Simple Framework for Climate Action 10 Sustainable Living Mistakes to Avoid Related Episodes Ep. 20: Wildlife Conservation, Birding, and Finding Hope in Nature Ep. 51: Can You Be Sustainable in the Suburbs? Ep. 54: Litter Prevention and Community Action with Keep America Beautiful Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

  4. Aug 18

    56: Food Preservation for Beginners — How to Save Money on Groceries with Kris Bordessa

    If you want to reduce food waste, save money on groceries, and learn about easy and practical food preservation, this conversation with Kris Bordessa is a great place to start. In this episode, I’m joined by Kris Bordessa, author of Attainable Sustainable and Attainable Sustainable Pantry, to talk about ‘old-fashioned’ kitchen skills that are still incredibly useful in modern life. We talk about using what you already have before heading back to the grocery store, stocking a more useful pantry, preserving seasonal abundance, and why safe canning matters. Kris also shares why these skills are not just for homesteaders or preppers. They are practical tools that can help ordinary households stretch food budgets, reduce waste, and feel more capable when life gets unpredictable. This conversation is about building a more sustainable kitchen in a way that feels realistic, not overwhelming. You do not need to preserve everything, make every pantry staple from scratch, or completely change the way you cook. But learning a few simple sustainable habits in the kitchen can make low waste living feel more doable. Takeaways Starting with what you already have in your fridge, freezer, and pantry can help you reduce food waste, save money on groceries, and avoid unnecessary grocery runs.A more useful pantry does not have to be complicated. Staples like beans, grains, broth, potatoes, onions, garlic, and oil can make flexible cooking easier.Food preservation can start small. Freezing, quick pickling, dehydrating herbs, making herb salts, and preserving in salt or oil are all practical ways to use seasonal abundance.Safe canning matters. Water bath canning and pressure canning are used for different foods, and trusted, tested recipes are important.You do not need to make everything from scratch. Some things, like salad dressing, may be worth making at home, while others, like tomato paste, may not be worth the time.Preparedness does not have to mean fear-based prepping. A stocked pantry and the skills to use it can help ordinary households feel more capable when routines, budgets, or supply chains are disrupted.Self-reliance does not mean doing everything alone. Sharing food, recipes, tools, and skills is part of building more resilient communities.One Small Shift Before your next grocery shop, start with what you already have. Take a few minutes to look through your fridge, freezer, and pantry, and choose one or two things that need to be used before you bring more food into the house. Maybe it’s leftover rice, soft fruit, wilting vegetables, or something you bought with good intentions and then forgot about. If you want a little more guidance, my Simple Kitchen Audit is a good place to start. It’s a 10-page workbook that walks you through what’s working in your kitchen, where food and packaging waste are creeping in, and what small changes could help your kitchen feel more organized, lower-waste, and easier to use. Connect With Kris Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living (book) Attainable Sustainable Pantry: A Back-to-Basics Guide to Stocking Your Kitchen (book) Website Facebook Pinterest Instagram Related Blog Posts A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen How to Use Beeswax Wraps (Plastic Free Food Storage) Plastic Free Pantry — How to Refill in Your Own Containers Creating a Sustainable Kitchen: 11 Ways to Reuse Food Scraps Related Podcast Episodes Ep. 13: Plastic Free Food Storage with Hive to Home Ep. 38: Things I Don’t Buy Anymore Ep. 45: How to Spend Less on Groceries by Reducing Food Waste  Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

  5. Aug 4

    55: Use What You Have — A Simple Way to Reduce Waste

    Sustainable living is increasingly being marketed as something we need to shop for. We are constantly being shown greener products, better materials, and more sustainable versions of things we already own—but for most of us, the best place to start is by using what is already in our homes more fully. In this episode, I’m talking about why waste begins long before something reaches the landfill and why using what we already own is one of the most practical sustainable habits we can build. Takeaways Eco-friendly products now seem to follow the same trend cycles as everything else.Waste also includes when we buy more than we can realistically use, maintain, store, or even remember we own.Once something is in our home, much of its environmental impact has already happened. The next question is how much value and use we can get from it.It is okay for useful things to look repaired, scratched, mismatched, or even a little ugly.Shopping your own house first can help you find the exact item you need, a workable substitute, something that can be repaired, or something you have simply forgotten about.Using what you have does not mean never buying anything. It gives you better information so you can shop more slowly and deliberately when you genuinely need something.Creating use-first areas, keeping a pause list, repairing things quickly, borrowing rarely used items, and using the good stuff now are all practical ways to reduce waste.Low waste living becomes easier when the things we already own are visible, accessible, cared for, and actually used.One Small Shift Take stock of what is under your bathroom sink. Pull everything out and see what is already open, what needs to be used up, and what you have duplicates of. Then choose one product to finish before you replace it or try something new. Related Podcast Episodes Ep. 12: How to Quit Using Amazon (And Why You Should) Ep. 23: Borrow Before You Buy — Sharing, Renting, and the Circular Economy Ep. 47: Sustainable Bathroom Swaps That Save Money and Reduce Waste Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

  6. Jul 21

    54: Litter Prevention and Community Action — What the 2026 National Litter Study Reveals with Keep America Beautiful

    Litter is one of the most visible forms of waste in our communities. It shows up along roads, in parks, on trails, near schools, and in the places we move through every day. But it is also a clue — about our habits, our infrastructure, our systems, and how we care for where we live. In this episode, I’m joined by Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, for a conversation about the 2026 National Litter Study, what it reveals about litter in communities across the United States, and why litter prevention is about more than picking up garbage. We talk about why litter matters, how social norms and infrastructure shape behaviour, what has changed since 2020, and how individuals, businesses, local governments, and community organizations all have a role to play in creating cleaner, healthier public spaces. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by big environmental problems, this conversation is a reminder that you can take action in a very practical place: your own neighbourhood. Takeaways Litter is connected to community care, shared responsibility, and how people feel about the places where they live.The 2026 National Litter Study shows real progress, while also making clear that there is still work ahead.Infrastructure, access, education, enforcement, and local programs all shape litter prevention.Social norms play an important role in how people care for shared spaces.Businesses, producers, local governments, and communities all have a role to play in litter prevention.Community cleanups are a great starting point for broader environmental action.One Small Shift Choose one shared space you pass through regularly and notice it differently. Look at what kind of litter shows up, whether there are bins nearby, and whether the space feels cared for. Then choose to help reduce waste by picking up few pieces of litter and look for the nearest bin. Connect With Keep America Beautiful Website Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Related Podcast Episodes Ep. 18 - Community Communities Through Green Spaces Ep. 42 - Overwhelmed by Climate Change? Start Here Ep. 51 - Sustainable Living in the Suburbs Related Blog Posts 50 Ways to Be More Sustainable How to Start Living More Sustainability How to Do a Trash Audit (With Kids!) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

  7. Jul 7

    53: What to Do With the Plastic You Already Have — Practical Ways To Go (Almost) Plastic-Free At Home

    If you are trying to reduce plastic waste at home, you might be wondering what to do with the plastic you already have. The answer is not to throw it all away and buy a new set of eco-friendly swaps. It is to use what you have, rethink the plastic that moves through your home, and start noticing where single-use plastic shows up in your daily routines. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, Sarah talks about reducing single-use plastic in real life: using the containers, bags, bins, and Tupperware you already own; choosing reusables that actually fit your habits; giving so-called disposable plastic one more job before it hits the garbage; and using your voice to ask for better systems. Plastic itself is not the whole problem. Waste is the problem. Disposability is the problem. And this episode is a practical reset for anyone who wants to reduce plastic waste, keep materials in circulation, and make small shifts that actually fit real life. Takeaways Plastic itself is not the problem. Single-use plastic is often the problem.Reducing plastic waste does not mean throwing away every plastic thing in your house. Use what you already have until it is no longer usable.A reusable product only works if you actually use it. Choose reusable products that fit your real habits, not the ones that look the most sustainable online.Individual habits matter, but they are not the whole story. Ask businesses why plastic packaging is there in the first place, and use your voice as well as your wallet.Systems are made of people, and people can be influenced.One Small Shift Before you throw away a piece of plastic, ask whether it can do one more job. It’s only single-use if you use it once! Resources Plastic Free July 31 Easy Swaps to Reduce Plastic Waste  10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money Plastic-Free Pantry: How to Refill in Your Own Containers How to Pack a Zero Waste School Lunch Related Episodes Episode 8: 5 Easy Plastic-Free Kitchen Swaps Episode 47: Eco-Friendly Bathroom Swaps Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

  8. Jun 23

    52: Building a Sustainable Kitchen — What Actually Matters with Naomi Hansen

    Climate action begins at the kitchen table — and a more sustainable kitchen starts with knowing where to focus. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, Sarah talks with Naomi Hansen, author of Building a Sustainable Kitchen: A Practical Guide to Prioritizing the Planet from the Heart of Your Home, about what actually matters when it comes to food, waste, and climate action at home. Together, they explore why the kitchen is such a powerful place to begin, how food waste connects to bigger climate solutions, and why the most sustainable choice is not always the one that looks the most sustainable from the outside. Takeaways Why the kitchen is a meaningful place to start with climate actionHow food waste connects to sustainability and climate impactWhy some popular sustainable swaps only scratch the surfaceHow to think about trade-offs, like packaging versus wasted foodWhy individual action still matters, especially when it spreads through families, friends, and communitiesConnect with Naomi Website Instagram Building a Sustainable Kitchen (book)  Resources Drawdown:The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming - Paul Hawken (book) How to Prevent Food Waste With Kids (blog post) 11 Ways to Reuse Food Scraps (blog post) 10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post) Related Episodes Ep. 4 - How to Conduct a Household Waste Audit Ep. 13 - Beeswax Wraps 101 Ep. 45 - How to Spend Less on Groceries by Reducing Food Waste Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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Want to waste less, save money, and build a more sustainable home life? Do you care about sustainable living but feel overwhelmed by all the advice, products, pressure, and endless lists of things you are supposed to change? If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place. Sustainable in the Suburbs helps you reduce waste, build sustainable habits, and make intentional living feel more doable at home — in a way that works for real people, real families, real budgets, real routines, and real homes. Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — sustainability educator, writer, speaker, former high school science teacher, suburban mum, and founder of Sustainable in the Suburbs — the show offers practical, non-judgmental guidance to help you waste less, spend more intentionally, buy less, use what you already have, and make thoughtful changes at home. Sarah’s background in science education and technical writing helps her make complex sustainability topics clear, approachable, and useful in everyday life. Because sustainable living is not just about eco-friendly products or making every possible swap. It is about creating a home life that is better for the planet while also working for your budget, energy, family, routines, and capacity. On the podcast, you’ll hear practical conversations and ideas about: Low waste living and reducing waste at home Sustainable habits that fit real life Reducing food waste and building low-waste kitchen routines Buying less, using what you have, and reducing overconsumption Sustainable parenting and sustainable living with kids Composting, decluttering, plastic-free living, and eco-frugal living Making holidays and celebrations less wasteful Bringing more slow living and intentional living into everyday life Building a more sustainable home life without adding more pressure Choose an episode and hit play. Follow or subscribe for practical ideas to help make sustainable living feel more doable at home. Next steps: Free Household Waste Audit Workbook A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen Read the Sustainable in the Suburbs blog Join the Sustainable in the Suburbs newsletter  Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener — one small shift at a time!

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